Monday, June 20, 2011

Heading Yonder

(Scotland, 2010)

"All travellers are optimists. Travel itself is a kind of optimism in action."

~Paul Theroux~

Good morning, glories!

By the time you read this post, I will be about fifty miles into a Southwestern road trip with a girlfriend of mine and our two 9-year-old boys. I spent all Sunday trying on clothes appropriate for 100-plus degree weather...and bitterly reproaching myself for behaving as though the last three weeks have been National Dessert Month. (Note to Self: Find out whether stomach crunches are possible to do in a moving car.)

Anyway, our itinerary includes staying overnight in an unfinished 1970's experimental town that looks like something out of "Logan's Run"...

(Arcosanti, Arizona)

...sledding down gleaming white mountains of sand...

(White Sands National Park, NM)

...and spending some quality time in a burgeoning art colony in one of the least populated, most isolated parts of the United States.

(Prada art installation, Marfa, TX)

Oh, and the boys are crossing their fingers that some paranormal phenomena will make an appearance too.

(Marfa Mystery Lights)

Part of taking an adventure is allowing oneself the opportunity to explore the unknown, and so we are padding our trip with enough extra time to make a few spur-of-the-moment decisions. To quote Paul Theroux again, "A tourist doesn't know where he's been. A traveller doesn't know where he's going." We're aiming for the latter.

(I am intent on posting from the road, so keep checking in this week for updates.)

Next on the agenda --

I am crazy in love with my brand-new business cards from Moo.com. Printed on super thick card stock, they are slimmer than regular-sized cards and feel lovely in the hand. Plus, they just look chic, don't they?

For the longest time, I've been wanting to create two-sided business cards with photos on them, but I always assumed they would cost a fortune.

Nope. On Moo.com, I created 100 bespoke mini-sized cards for just $19.99.

No, I'm not kidding.

$19.99 for 100 cards.

What makes it all totally brilliant is that you can choose up to TEN images per order (the information side of the card remains the same). I went a little crazy with my photos and made some family-themed, some blog-themed, some embroidery-themed and some book/sheep/teacup-themed.

I can't wait to fan them out like a deck of cards and let people choose the one they like best.

Editor's Update:

My travelling copilot just emailed me that a friend of hers said we need to bring business cards...for the oddest of reasons....

(From her friend's email):

"Bring your biz card - if you have one - or a joker or a matchbook or cocktail napkin or dollar bill you can write your name on... For cryin' out loud....bring somethin' with yer name on it to leave on the ledge (under a little pebble) of the Prada, Marfa store."

58 comments:

Hello LisaMay the angels go with you on your exciting adventure. You choose such original, unusual and less travelled paths. Then you write about it and I feel like I am reading a Daphne Du Maurier adventure (Jamaica Inn).Will be thinking of you this week. "Thelma & Lousise and their Two Eggs heading yonder"Helenxx

I remember seeing an article about Marfa in a magazine years ago and totally forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. I will put it on my list of things to do when we go to NM. Your trip sounds incredible.

Oh, that sounds like a fun trip. Be sure to bring home some Arcosanti bells! And if you want to continue National Dessert Month, I seem to remember buying some good peanut butter chocolate chip cookies at their bakery, once! (Calories consumed during a roadtrip don't count.)

I tried to email this the other day but may or may not have succeeded. Repeat: Cleaning my bookshelves I found an embroidery book (c. 2000) by Elaine Reichek called "When This You See..." You will be interested. Her work is very like yours, but different.

that should be one wonderful trip..look forward to your lovely recap once you are back..i'm off to goa in two days..seriously cursing all the desserts i've had in the last few weeks..alas!no stomach cruches possible on the plane..LOVE your business cards..so beautiful and fun!love the idea of having a variety of cards!! have a fabulous time, lisa..warm hugs..xx meenal

MOO business cards are the best! Superb quality at the lowest price. Road trips are are the best trips........the USA has much to see and appreciate. Yellowstone Park, Yosemite, Mt Rushmore, Grand Canyon.........just amazing.........but that's more north than you're going.Kathi

I, too, am off to Texas with my son (15 yrs old) and thought I was the only one crazy enough to head south during the summer (but family beckons). The Prada site tempts me but my son will not go for an 8-hour out-of-the-way stop. SOOOO lots of photos and dialogue on that one please!!! We're off on our annual "Route 66" tour although it no longer includes Route 66 but I did want him to see the country from a car instead of flying overhead and seeing nothing.

Your blog is a great one. What really impresses me is that you are correctly mentioned that there are thousands of tools that are available to create a website or launch one but what matters is that you choose the right one, the one that gives you all that is actuallymodern floor lamp needed.

Lisa that is one heck of a trip you set out on. One those boys, you and your girlfriend will remember for a lifetime. I can't believe you are driving to Marfa. Here I live in Texas and I have yet to venture there. Cannot wait to read more. Be safe and let the adventures begin!

Having lived in far west Texas (Pecos) for 30 years, I am very familiar with Marfa and all the surrounding territory. I love the Davis mountains and spend a whole week at a Baptist camp about 15 miles from Marfa every summer. So your post makes me homesick for that part of the state. You are right--it is very hot, but Marfa often has the state's low temperature, and I have seen summers in the area when we were shopping for coats and blankets. So be prepared for anything. Have fun and drive safely in the mountains. Try to see Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory if possible.

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